Why is overgrowth and vegetation on our roads hazardous to our health !
We’re calling on highway authorities within our local councils and landowners to tackle the recurring menace of road signs obscured by foliage.
According to BIBA (British Insurers Brokers Association), obscured road signs are, at best, a nuisance for drivers and, at worst, misleading and dangerous.
The Highways Act 1980 (Section 154) requires landowners to protect road users’ safety by maintaining roadside hedges and trees.
The bird nesting and rearing season usually prohibits tree cutting or trimming until after August. However, any hedgerow or tree overhanging a highway and obstructing drivers’ view is not included within the restriction and should be cut back to improve road safety.
“Road signs provide vital instructions and information for drivers, who choose their speeds and actions based on what the signs tell them.
“If they can’t see the signs, their ability to make safe decisions is compromised, especially on unfamiliar roads.
“Dealing with trees, branches, and plants that hide traffic signs is vital, as well as ensuring that speed limits and other signs are made as straightforward as possible for everyone using their roads.
“We therefore ask any farmer, local authority and landowners to do their bit for road safety and ensure any signs are visible for road users, and that drivers have a clear and unobstructed view ahead, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends.”
What Research has found?
New research from the RAC suggests that more than four in ten (42%) drivers have admitted to accidentally breaking the speed limit because overgrown foliage blocks road signs.
Three-quarters (74%) of drivers say speed limit signs are the most likely type to be covered by overgrown foliage, with 30mph signs the most commonly obscured.
More than half (53%) of motorists say obscured signs are frequent on their journeys, and two in five (39%) say signs are occasionally harder to see in the warmer months.
Just 8% say obscured signs are not a problem on roads near them.
A quarter (26%) of respondents also reported missing important information that compromised their safety or someone else’s, while 28% claimed to have missed a turn, and nearly one-in-10 (8%) said they ended up driving in the wrong direction.
Of particular concern was the finding that ‘red circle’ signs, which tell drivers what to do, are often hidden by untrimmed trees and bushes.
A further 42% felt other ‘red triangle’ signs that warn of changes in road layout and hazards, such as junctions, dual carriageways ending and school crossings, were either partially or fully obscured. In comparison, 35% said ‘give way’ signs were difficult to detect.
What was scarier was that the RAC’s research also revealed that most drivers (92%) only realised signs had been obscured when passing them, which may be too late to react to upcoming hazards.
SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
Further research also found that unkempt vegetation is causing issues with road sign visibility and creating danger for motorists at junctions or roundabouts.
Of those who notice road signs are obscured, four in five (81%) drivers said too much foliage makes it difficult to pull out of a junction or roundabout safely.
As a result, more than half (58%) of drivers questioned felt strongly that foliage should not be allowed to grow out of control as it compromises road safety.
An additional 28% said they expect foliage to be cut back, considering how much they pay in council tax.
“Drivers shouldn’t be left to rely on their local knowledge and navigation apps to know if there’s a change in speed limit or if a junction is approaching.
Even technology and new in-car systems that typically detect and display road signs on the dashboard are redundant if a sign isn’t visible.
“While we realise local councils are under enormous pressure financially, we nonetheless ask them to inspect all the signs on their networks and do everything in their power to ensure they are clear and visible to drivers, as it’s these signs that can save lives.”
The further damage this overgrowth causes.
Recognising the early signs of tree and root damage is essential to address the issue promptly.
The initial signs of root damage to pavements and roadways can vary depending on the severity of the issue. Still, common early indicators include cracks, uneven surfaces, pavement shifting, and even potholes and sinkholes, which cause weaknesses in drainage and soil erosion.
The most noticeable sign of such damage is often cracking or uneven or lifted sections of pavement. These issues can pose trip hazards and make walking or driving difficult.
In some cases, instead of uplifting, the pavement may sink or settle due to soil erosion caused by root growth. As roots expand beneath the pavement, they can create an uneven surface or pockets of air below the pavement, making walking or driving challenging.
Advanced cases may even reveal visible tree roots breaking through the pavement surface or pushing it upwards. Additionally, the pressure from tree roots can damage the pavement and lead to cracks in nearby structures like retaining walls, curbs, or foundations.
Roots also search for water, which is found in many drainage systems.
Water then takes over underground, leading to insufficient tributary systems. This impedes the runoff of water from our roads and increases the risk of flooding across our region.
People are feeling that the council and government are hiding behind the “Green and Biodiversity agenda”
Some of the comments and concerns raised by local constituents are:-
- They say they want meadows to promote bees and wildflowers yet cut all the green area’s around aston road but not the verge between my house and the dual carriageway, which makes it dangerous for pedestrians and drivers, Marc tami he’s a waste of our taxes x
- I cannot see to join the roundabout at Queensferry, which is already dangerous due to the height of the overgrowth, and when I edge out I fear someone is going to hit me, can you please help me raise this as a serious issue with the local authorities.
- When it rains in Queensferry the water runs down the road and floods, as the drains are full of roots and mud that the water does not drain away, and the same issue happens in sandycroft and into peoples houses.
- A couple of different constituents in Saltney have expressed their concerns about the overgrowth which is limiting space on an already narrow pathway which runs alongside the A5104, the main road running through Saltney.One of their children suffered scratches on her arms and face as a result of the overgrown hedgerow encroaching on the pathway close to St Davids High School.
- Cycleways and pathways used by cyclists and disabled have also complained about the overgrowth around the dock road area of connahs quay which restricts there enjoyment of the outsides, alongside the barriers which stop the wheelchairs on several parts of the coastal path.